Chapter Ninety-Eight: I Must Win

“I still want to try the college entrance exam.”

No matter how earnestly Jiang Yu pressed him, Xiao Nan remained unmoved, only smiling as he shook his head.

He had already grasped the Thunder Sword. Though he still wanted to learn the three Summer-form swords, and was curious about what the Storm Rain and Scorching Sun swords looked like, his interest in the Autumn and Winter swords ran even deeper.

But if he could not learn them, so be it.

His basic needs were already met, and he had no great expectations.

As for what Jiang Yu called the cycle of the four seasons, and the sword-seed of true intent—

from the way she hyped it up, one could tell without even thinking that it was something extraordinarily difficult to comprehend.

He even suspected that not a single person in the whole lineage had mastered it.

Otherwise, the Four Seasons Sword school would never have ended up in such a lukewarm state today.

It would have long since become famous everywhere, its name carried across river and plain alike.

“You’re not going to think about it a little longer? It would be such a pity to miss this chance,” Jiang Yu said, no longer as certain as before.

Xiao Nan caught the look in her eyes and, unexpectedly, saw loneliness and sadness there.

Regret was written all over her face.

“He already doesn’t want to join, and that old woman just keeps nagging on and on. Isn’t that annoying?”

“Exactly. Isn’t it just because she thinks our senior is handsome and wants to recruit him into the school...”

“The Four Seasons Sword is nice and all, but can it compare with Qingning or Heluo? Senior Xiao Nan works so hard. He’ll definitely get into a top university.”

Before Xiao Nan could say anything else, the cluster of girls gathered behind him began muttering under their breath, looking thoroughly displeased.

Thanks for the help, then.

He did not know whether to laugh or cry.

Among the people here, including Jiang Lin, all four were martial artists, and keen hearing and sharp eyesight were standard.

Though the girls spoke softly, every word was clearly audible.

Instructor Yang’s wooden face twitched repeatedly; he was plainly struggling to hold back his laughter.

The old man with white hair had a faint smile in his eyes, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously curled upward.

This man’s pores were tightly closed, and faint veins stood out beneath his skin. He was at least at the second-rank tendon-refining level, and quite possibly at the third-rank bone-refining level.

The reason Xiao Nan did not guess that he was fourth-rank was that he did not sense that overwhelming, soul-pressing aura from him.

Jiang Yu’s brows jumped wildly; she was clearly infuriated...

As the hall master, she had a decent temper and composure, and did not flare up.

After all, these junior girls from first year of high school were members of her sword school, and she could not be too harsh with them; otherwise it would amount to driving them away.

And she could endure this too? Xiao Nan glanced at her in surprise, looking at her with renewed respect.

Mm, the hall master was the same. Her aura was even a little stronger than the white-haired old man’s.

So she was at least a third-rank bone-refining martial artist.

...

With a sigh, Jiang Yu said, “Since everyone has their own ambitions, I won’t force you.

“Take this card. Aside from teaching swordsmanship and practicing swordsmanship, the Four Seasons Sword Hall also has some supporting facilities. The threefold-gravity training chamber modeled after an otherworld environment is quite good, and the primordial energy concentration inside is decent as well. It is one of our hall’s greatest treasures.

“And if you want to practice swordsmanship but cannot find an opponent, you can apply for a sword automaton at the hall. This is cutting-edge mechanical technology.

“Although our hall only obtained a few second-generation units, they are enough to meet most training needs.

“Practicing against an automaton, with a chip recording and analyzing the precision, speed, and force of your sword techniques, can greatly help you refine and understand your own swordsmanship.”

Xiao Nan had intended to refuse, but as he listened, his hand somehow reached out on its own and took the card.

The training chamber with increased gravity, the concentration of primordial energy—those terms tugged at his heartstrings, and he truly could not resist.

As for the sword automaton Jiang Yu had specially brought out as bait, and all that chip-based recording and analysis—those might be good things to others, but they were not all that important to Xiao Nan.

No matter how well it could analyze, no matter how practical it was, could it compare with the bronze mirror space he had?

That was a perfectly simulated world, where one walked a razor’s edge between life and death; it was no different from reality, except that one would not actually die.

He still remembered the sensation of being pierced through by the tongue of the silver-white giant python, and then whipped to death by its tail. That feeling had been something else entirely.

He also remembered the scene in which Teacher Tang Zhixuan’s blade, Wave-Moon Slash, had nearly cut him in half within the mirrored space. Though it was illusory, it was still a genuine experience, one that trained the spirit.

What had that time been for again?

He remembered that, since it was all inside the space and therefore beyond any rules, while speaking to Tang Zhixuan he had gone ahead and groped her backside and her chest...

As a result, that tigress had unleashed her full feminine ferocity and struck without the slightest mercy.

Even thinking about it made him want to cry.

Better not mention it.

...

Watching Xiao Nan leave the hall together with a large group of girls, Jiang Yu let out a long sigh and nearly beat her chest in frustration.

She had indeed been desperately hoping he would agree on the spot.

But she also knew that force-fed melon was never sweet; everything had to be done step by step.

So she would first offer a little sweetness and plan slowly. There was no need to fear that he would not take the bait.

Talented people were hard to come by; once found, they could not be missed. Perhaps this was the turning point for the Four Seasons Sword’s resurgence.

“Jiang Lin, when you were at a disadvantage earlier and the Summer-form Thunder Sword was used, did you make use of the strength of a first-rank martial artist?”

Once the idle students had left, Jiang Yu could not be bothered to keep up appearances anymore...

To be honest, she was extremely dissatisfied with Jiang Lin.

The academy’s top elite student at Yuanjiang Four Seasons Sword Hall was this sort of thing; how was she supposed to have confidence in defeating the disciples of Lijiang Sword Hall? It would not be enough to embarrass herself just once.

“No, because the other side was only a student and had not broken through to martial artist level, so I only used equivalent strength.”

In truth, he had used it, but the moment he saw the hall master’s sharp gaze, Jiang Lin immediately caved and hastily denied it.

He thought to himself that, fortunately, he had only struck once with martial artist-level strength, and was then immediately interrupted when the other side broke his longsword and sent his body flying.

The changes in between had happened too quickly to be noticeable.

Even so, he was still somewhat baffled. Why was it that when he, a mid-stage first-rank martial artist, erupted with eighteen hundred jin of sword force, the other side could still take it so easily?

And even suppress him in return?

He could only keep this question buried in his heart and tell no one.

Jiang Yu’s expression finally eased a little, and she nodded. “Good. At least you know your limits. If you had still lost after using martial artist-level strength, I would not have allowed you to remain in the hall.”

Indeed, as the chief elite student, losing was an ability problem; cheating by using martial artist-level strength because you could not accept defeat was a matter of character.

After lecturing Jiang Lin a couple of times, Jiang Yu finally showed a hint of pleasure on her face. “Old Wu, it looks like Xiao Nan’s strength should not be too formidable. The reason he could send Jiang Lin flying must have been the subtlety of his sword technique. His blood-energy value really does seem to be as low as the records say.

“With Lin Anguo meddling in the Yuanjiang First High blood-energy assessment this time, he basically has no hope of passing... When that happens, he will come to seek me out.”

“Hall Master, haste makes waste. You’ve already extended your goodwill. Once he tastes the benefits of training at Four Seasons Sword Hall, why would you still fear he won’t turn back?”

Old Wu truly could not bear to watch any longer, and felt a little heartache for her as well, so he hurried to comfort her.

To be honest, he could not see what that so-called true intent or life force was supposed to be at all; he was utterly bewildered by it.

His spiritual power was not especially strong. His third-rank martial artist strength had been earned over many years of hard grinding.

It was not strange that he could not sense many things, and he neither dwelled on it nor doubted it.

“It’s all my fault. I never taught the students well enough. Not only can I not share the burden for the hall master, I’ve made you shoulder all the blame instead.”

Old Wu said with shame.

He was referring to Jiang Yu’s earlier admission that she had taught the disciples herself...

In truth, all those elite students had been taught by Old Wu.

He had immersed himself in the Four Seasons Sword technique for more than thirty years. His talent was not extraordinary, but his swordsmanship was experienced and refined, making him perfectly suited to teaching disciples.

“It is not your fault. You have already done all you could. Old Wu, it was my own stubbornness that dragged you, at your age, to Yuanjiang to strike out in new territory with me. You have been struggling for the sake of some unrealistic ideal.”

Jiang Yu shook her head.

“In the expedition ten years ago, among the three great folk masters, Morning Sun Spear Zhao Wuyan died on the spot, leaving behind only a spear manual for later generations, and no one ever managed to make anything of it.

“Tiger Soul Blade Wei Dangyang had it even worse. After his body and soul were destroyed by the barbarian god, the inheritance of his blade art was practically lost. Only a few scraps remain among ordinary martial artists.”

Sadness rose in Jiang Yu’s eyes, as though she were recalling something. “Only my father was different. By relying on the life force nurtured by the Four Seasons Cycle Sword, he could still hold on long enough to return home.

“But even then, he only hastily arranged a few matters, left behind the inheritance of the sword-seed of true intent, and then went into seclusion to heal. He did not appear again for ten whole years, and no one even knows whether he is still alive...”

As she spoke, her eyes grew sorrowful. “My father and the three great masters led their force into battle. Although they were utterly defeated while blocking the barbarian god, they still saved twenty thousand ordinary martial artists and preserved many seeds of martial cultivation for the empire.

“Even if they had perished body and soul, they would never have regretted it... The only thing my father could not let go of was the inheritance of the Four Seasons Sword. He said he would spread the true intent of the four seasons far and wide, so the barbarians would tremble at the mere mention of it...”

Old Wu gently advised her, “You should not carry everything on your own either. Wouldn’t it also work for Jiang Yu to open a branch hall in Lijiang? Or let him do as he wishes, and we simply stop competing.”

Jiang Yu’s voice rang out like steel. “No. He has already strayed from the proper path of the Four Seasons Sword. He only practices the Autumn’s severe frost and the Winter’s cold snow, until the whole man has become cold and cruel... How is he supposed to comprehend the sword-seed of true intent now?

“Without the life force of the three spring swords growing strong, one cannot give birth to the scorching sun of summer, nor subdue frost and ice... I heard this often from my father when I was young, and Jiang Yu should know it too. He is knowingly doing what cannot be done; he has already changed.”

Old Wu gave a bitter smile. Once a woman was stubborn, nine oxen could not pull her back.

Then Jiang Yu said, “For this upcoming match between the branch halls’ disciples, no matter the cost, I must win. The sword-seed of true intent must never fall into Jiang Yu’s hands.”